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2009 East Carolina Pirates football
Liberty Bowl Champions
C-USA Champions
C-USA East Division Champions
C-USA Championship Game vs Houston, W 38–32
Liberty Bowl vs Arkansas, L 17-20 OT
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionEast
2009 record9–5 (7–1 C-USA)
Head coachSkip Holtz
Offensive coordinatorTodd Fitch
Steve Shankweiler
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorGreg Hudson
Base defenseMultiple
Home stadiumDowdy-Ficklen Stadium
(Capacity: 43,000)
Seasons
← 2008
2010 →

Template:2009 Conference USA football standings

The 2009 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the college football season of 2009-10 and played their home games in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The team was coached by Skip Holtz, who was in his fifth and final year with the program. The 2009 Pirates were defending their first ever Conference USA Football Championship.

The Pirates finished the season 9–5, 7–1 in CUSA play, winning the East Division in their final regular season game against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles 25-20, and won their second consecutive CUSA Championship Game 38–32 against the Houston Cougars in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The Pirates were invited to their second consecutive Liberty Bowl where they were defeated by Arkansas 20–17 in overtime.

Before the season[]

Recruiting[]


Purple/Gold Spring Game[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Pirates 0 10 0 0 10
ECU 10 0 14 7 31



The annual Purple/Gold Spring Game was held in the spring during the PirateFest and Pigskin Pigout weekend activities on April 18 in downtown Greenville, NC and put the "Pirates" team led by Redshirt Freshman Quarterback Josh Jordan against the "ECU" team led by Senior Quarterback Patrick Pinkney.[1] The ECU team defeated the Pirates team 31-10.[2]

Schedule[]

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Result Attendance
September 5* 12:00 PM #1 FCS Appalachian State Dowdy-Ficklen StadiumGreenville, NC MASN/WITN-TV W 29–24   43,279[3]
September 12* 3:30 PM at West Virginia Mountaineer FieldMorgantown, WV ESPN360 L 20–35   59,216[4]
September 19* 12:00 PM at #19 North Carolina Kenan Memorial StadiumChapel Hill, NC ESPN2 L 17–31   58,000[5]
September 26 3:30 PM UCF Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC BHSN/WITN-TV W 19–14   43,210[6]
October 3 12:00 PM at Marshall Joan C. Edwards StadiumHuntington, WV CBSCS W 21–17   26,814[7]
October 10 8:00 PM at SMU Gerald J. Ford StadiumDallas, TX MASN/WITN-TV L 21–28   13,626[8]
October 17† 3:30 PM Rice Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC MASN W 49–13   43,023[9]
October 27 8:00 PM at Memphis Liberty Bowl Memorial StadiumMemphis, TN ESPN2 W 38–19   4,117[10]
November 5* 7:30 PM #24 Virginia Tech Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC ESPN L 3–16   43,569[11]
November 15 8:15 PM at Tulsa H.A. Chapman StadiumTulsa, OK ESPN W 44–17   17,453[12]
November 21 3:30 PM UAB Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC MASN/WITN-TV W 37–21   43,056[13]
November 28 1:30 PM Southern Miss Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC CBSCS W 25–20   43,006[14]
December 5 12:00 PM #18 Houston Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, NC (C-USA Championship) ESPN2 W 38–32   33,048[15]
January 2 5:30 PM vs. Arkansas Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, TN (AutoZone Liberty Bowl) ESPN L 17–20 OT  62,742[16]
*Non-Conference Game. Homecoming. #Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time.

Coaching staff[]

Staff[]

Position Name Years at ECU Alma Mater
Head Coach: Skip Holtz 5th Notre Dame '86
Offensive Coordinator/
Quarterbacks Coach:
Todd Fitch 3rd Ohio Wesleyan '86
Defensive Coordinator
Linebacker Coach:
Greg Hudson 4th Notre Dame '90
Offensive Coordinator
Offensive Linemen Coach:
Steve Shankweiler 5th(15th overall) Davidson '74
Assistant Head Coach/
Defensive Backs Coach
Rick Smith 5th Florida State '71
Director of Strength & Conditioning Michael Golden 4th Central Connecticut State '92
Defensive End Coach/
Special Teams
Vernon Hargreaves 3rd Connecticut '86
Wide Receiver Coach/
Recruiting Coordinator
Donnie Kirkpatrick 5th Lenoir-Rhyne '82
Tight Ends Coach: Phil Petty 5th South Carolina '01
Director of HS Football Relations Harold Robinson 6th East Carolina '72
Defensive Tackle Coach Thomas Roggeman 5th Notre Dame '85
Running Backs Coach Junior Smith 5th East Carolina '97
Director of Operations Clifford Snow 5th Central Connecticut State '83
Director of Football Administration Reed Case 1st Ohio ‘95
Administrative Assistant to Coach Holtz Ryan Mills 6th North Carolina '02
Administrative Assistant Ann Coyle 3rd East Carolina '06
Offensive Staff Assistant Coach Dwayne Ledford 2nd East Carolina '00
Defensive Staff Assistant Coach Chris Bland 1st Elon '08

Rankings[]

Ranking Movement[17]
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. ██ Not ranked the previous week. ██ Selected for BCS National Championship Game.
Poll Pre Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Wk 13 Wk 14 Final
AP 36[17] 41 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 37 26 --
Coaches 46[17] -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 28 42
Harris Not released -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 28
BCS Not released -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Game notes[]

Appalachian State[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Mountaineers 0 7 0 17 24
Pirates 17 10 2 0 29



The Pirates renewed their rivalry with their former Southern Conference opponent for the first time since 1979. The Mountaineers led the all-time series 19-10, but the two schools had only played once since the split of Division I college football, with the Pirates defeating the Mountaineers 38-21 in 1979. This marked the first time since 2001 that the Pirates have played a school from the Football Championship Subdivision. After being dominated in the first half, Appalachian State staged a comeback but fell short after a sack and a blocked pass with seconds left in the 4th Quarter. ECU would hold on to win 29-24, improving their record against the Mountaineers to 11-19.

West Virginia[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Pirates 10 10 0 0 20
Mountaineers 7 14 7 7 35



The Pirates went to Morgantown, WV to take on the 2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl Champion West Virginia Mountaineers, who remained undefeated at home in this series and led the all-time record 17-3. Last year, East Carolina blew out West Virginia 24-3 in Greenville. After going up 10-0 early in the first half, the Pirates would enter the second half trailing by 1, but the Mountaineers would pull ahead to win 35-20, improving their record to 18-3.

North Carolina[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Pirates 7 7 0 3 17
Tar Heels 7 14 3 7 31



The Pirates travel to Chapel Hill, NC to face their in-state rival North Carolina. In 2007, the Pirates beat the Tar Heels with a last second field goal to win the game 34-31. The Tar Heels lead the all-time series, 8-2-1.

UCF[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Knights 7 0 0 7 14
Pirates 3 7 3 6 19



The Pirates face the 2007 Conference USA champion UCF Knights in Greenville, NC. Last year, the Pirates beat the Knights in Orlando, FL 13-10 in overtime and lead the all-time series 7-1.

Marshall[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Pirates 7 7 7 0 21
Thundering Herd 0 7 10 0 17



The Pirates head back to West Virginia to face the Thundering Herd of Marshall. The Pirates won last year 19-16 in Greenville, NC after one overtime and lead the all-time series 7-3. In 2007, the Herd spoiled the Pirates' hopes in Huntington for a spot in the Conference USA championship.

SMU[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Pirates 0 7 7 7 21
Mustangs 0 7 14 7 28



The Pirates face the Mustangs of Southern Methodist in Dallas, TX. The last time the two schools played was in Greenville, NC in 2006, where the Pirates won 38-21. East Carolina has won both games played in this series.

Rice[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Owls 3 7 3 0 13
Pirates 14 14 0 21 49



The Pirates face the 2008 Texas Bowl Champion Rice Owls at home. The two teams are tied in the series 1-1 after the Owls spoiled the Pirates' hopes to clinch the Conference USA East Division and participate in the Conference USA Football Championship in 2006.

Memphis[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Pirates 14 7 14 3 38
Tigers 3 7 3 6 19



The Pirates travel to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, TN to face the Tigers of Memphis. The Pirates won last year in Greenville, NC 30-10 and lead the all-time series 11-6.

Virginia Tech[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Hokies 6 7 0 3 16
Pirates 0 3 0 0 3



For the first time since 2000, the 2009 Orange Bowl Champion Hokies make the trip to Greenville, NC. Last year, the Hokies and Pirates squared off in Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC, with the Pirates winning 27-22 after a Pontiac Game Changing Performance nominated blocked punt was returned by T.J. Lee. The Hokies lead the all time series 9-5.

Tulsa[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Pirates 3 17 3 21 44
Golden Hurricane 0 7 10 0 17



In a rematch of the 2008 Conference USA Football Championship, the Pirates travel to Tulsa, OK to face the Golden Hurricane. Last year, the Pirates defeated the Golden Hurricane 27-24. Tulsa leads the all-time series 5-3.

UAB[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Blazers 3 0 3 15 21
Pirates 14 9 7 7 37



File:UAB at ECU football game 2009-11-21.JPG

The Pirates face the Blazers at home

The Pirates faced the UAB Blazers at home in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. In 2008 the Pirates defeated the Blazers in Birmingham, AL for the first time in this series' history. The two schools are tied in the all-time series 4-4.

Southern Miss[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Golden Eagles 7 0 7 6 20
Pirates 3 14 0 8 25



The Pirates will be hosting the rival Golden Eagles of Southern Miss. Of the 34 games played in this series, the Pirates have only won 8. Last year, the Golden Eagles beat the Pirates 21-3 in Hattiesburg, MS.

2009 Conference USA Championship[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Cougars 7 12 0 13 32
Pirates 7 7 10 14 38




2010 AutoZone Liberty Bowl[]

1 2 3 4 OT
Razorbacks 0 0 17 0 20
Pirates 0 10 7 0 17




[18]

Postseason[]

NFL Draft Picks[]

Awards[]

  • Conference USA Special Teams Player-of-the-Year: Dwayne Harris, Jr. KR

Honors[]

Weekly Honors[]

  • Oct. 19 Conference USA Special Teams Player-of-the-Week - Dwayne Harris, Jr. KR
  • Nov. 16 Conference USA Defensive Player-of-the-Week - Emanuel Davis, So. DB
  • Nov. 23 Conference USA Special Teams Player-of-the-Week - Dwayne Harris, Jr. KR
  • Nov. 30 Conference USA Special Teams Player-of-the-Week - Ben Hartman, Sr. K

Teams[]

  • ESPN The Magazine University CoSIDA Academic All-America team - Sean Allen, Sr. OL
  • Sporting News Second-Team All America - Matt Dodge, Sr. P
  • Rivals.com Third-Team All America - Matt Dodge, Sr. P
  • Sports Illustrated Second-Team All-America - Matt Dodge, Sr. P
  • CollegeFootballNews Second-Team All-America - Matt Dodge, Sr. P
  • Phil Steele Magazine Fourth-Team All America - Matt Dodge, Sr. P
1st Team All C-USA
  • Sean Allen, Sr. OL
  • Emanuel Davis, So. DB
  • Matt Dodge, Sr. P
  • Van Eskridge, Sr. DB
  • Dwayne Harris, Jr. WR
  • Linval Joseph, Jr. DL
  • C.J. Wilson, Sr. DL
2nd Team All C-USA
  • Terence Campbell, Sr. OL
  • Dwayne Harris, Jr. KR
  • Ben Hartman, Sr. K
  • Nick Johnson, Sr. LB
C-USA Team Honorable Mentions
  • Jeremy Chambliss, Sr. LB
  • Dominique Lindsay, Sr. RB
  • Levin Neal, Sr. DB
  • Scotty Robinson, Sr. DL
  • Jay Ross, Sr. DL
  • D.J. Scott, Jr. OL
  • Travis Simmons, Jr. DB
  • William Smith, So. LS
  • Willie Smith, Jr. OL
C-USA All Freshman Team
  • Michael Brooks - DL
C-USA All Academic Team
  • Sean Allen - Sr. C
  • Patrick Pinkney - Sr. QB

Notes[]

  1. "26th Annual Great Pirate Purple/Gold Pigskin Pig-Out Party". East Carolina University. Archived from the original on April 17, 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090417150115/http://ecupirates.cstv.com/ot/ecu-pig-out-party.html. Retrieved March 5, 2009.
  2. "ECU Tops Pirates In Spring Game, 31-10". East Carolina University. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090422165001/http://ecupirates.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041809aaa.html. Retrieved April 18, 2009.
  3. "Appalachian State Mountaineers vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292480151. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  4. "East Carolina Pirates vs. West Virginia Mountaineers Box Score". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292550277. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  5. "East Carolina Pirates vs. North Carolina Tar Heels Box Score". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292620153. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  6. "UCF Knights vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292690151. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  7. "East Carolina Pirates vs. Marshall Thundering Herd Box Score". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292760276. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  8. "East Carolina Pirates vs. Southern Methodist Mustangs Box Score". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292832567. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  9. "Rice Owls vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=292900151. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  10. "East Carolina Pirates vs. Memphis Tigers Box Score". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=293000235. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  11. "Virginia Tech Hokies vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=293090151. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  12. "East Carolina Pirates vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane Box Score". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=293190202. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  13. "UAB Blazers vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=293250151. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  14. "Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=293320151. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  15. "Houston Cougars vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=293390151. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  16. "Arkansas Razorbacks vs. East Carolina Pirates Box Score". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=300020151. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 It is possible to receive votes in certain polls but not be officially ranked in the Top 25. Rankings of 26 and greater indicate the team has received votes, but not enough to be featured in the Top 25.
  18. "Future East Carolina Pirates Schedules". College Football Palace. January 11, 2009. Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. http://web.archive.org/web/20090105185621/http://cfbpalace.net/eastcarolina.html. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
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